Machine for making mops, brushes, and the like.



'J. T. OPIE. V MACHINE FOR MAKING MOPS, BRUSHES, AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1914 1,1g5,385, Patented Jan.19,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/ T/VESSES A TTOHIVEY THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHcTaL/THQ. WASHINGrON. D c.

. J. T. OPIE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MOPS, BRUSHES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27,1914.

1,125,385. Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

4-SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A TTORJVE V.

I; NORRIS PETERS 170.. FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c

J. T. OPIE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MOPS, BRUSHES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION IILBD MAILZY, 1914 1,125,385. Patented Jan.19, 1915.

4 SHEETS-$151121 3.

WITNESSES.- INIIaflLOR ,1 I M/I'W I I ""y I my I ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PErERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. c

J. T. OPIE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MOPS, BRUSHES,

AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1914 Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

' A TTOH/VEY JOHN T. OPIE. OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MOPS, BRUSHES, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

Application filed March 27, 1914. Serial No. 827,578.

T all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jot-IN T. OPIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Machine for Making Mops, Brushes, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making mops, brushes and the like, and the object in view is to devise a machine for facilitating the manufacture of articles of this character in which staples are used for securing the mop or brush material.

An important feature resides in themeans employed for clenching the staple after the same has been supplied with the proper amount of mop or brush material. Preferably a block is employed in connection with the staple, the block being embraced by the legs of the staple, and means is pro vided for clenching the ends or points of the staple into one end face of the block. Preferably also, a ferrule or equivalent member is used for inclosing the block and conveniently directing the proper course of the staple legs in the clenching operation. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the machine is constructed and arranged to manufacture a plurality of such articles in one operation.

Having the above stated general object in view, the invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings showing one form of means which has been devised for carrying the invention into practice; after which those features deemed to be novel will be particularly specified in the appended claims.

In the drawingsF i gure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a similar View (on a slightly smaller scale) with the parts in a different working position,-the broken lines showing the upper portion of the machine in open relation; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 1; Figs. t and 5 are sections on the lines IV IV and V V, respectively, of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view. on an en larged scale, illustrating the relative positions of the machine parts and of the staple and brush or mop material just prior to the staple clenching operation, the broken lines in said figure representing the relative positions of the same parts at the conclusion of said operation; Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on the lines V1I-VII and VIIIVIIT of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the staple driving member; Fig. 10 is a broken plan view of a portion of the upper part of the machine, showing another relation of the parts thereof; Fig. 11 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing a mop as constructed by the present machine; Fig. 12 is an end view of the anvil or clenching member.

Having reference now to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the machine comprises a bed-plate 2 supporting two pairs of spaced uprights 4, which latter serve to support in fixed horizontal position a bar 6 to the ends of which are secured two sets of plates 8. Between one of these sets of plates is pivoted at 10 one end of a top bar 12 which is adapted to swing from an open position, illustrated by the broken lines in Fig. 2, down between the spaced upper ends of the uprights 4 into a position parallel to the bar 2. The pivoted end of the top bar 12 is curved slightly (see the dotted lines 18 in Fig. 1) to permit this pivotal movement, and this curved portion is engaged by a block 1% for limiting the open position of the bar 12. Between the two sets of uprights a the opposing edges of the bars 6 and 12 are provided with channels or guideways 16 for receiving ribs 18 formed on the upper and lower edges of a pair of staple driving members, which are adapted to reciprocate horizontally between the bars 6 and 12 when the latter bar is in lowered position. The outer edge of each driving member 20 is recessed as shown at 22 for fitting the head of a staple 24. The inner edge of each staple driving member is also recessed, as shown at 26, to adapt it for engagement by the reciprocating means, which in the present instance comprises a toggle mechanism provided with roller sleeves 28 adapted to ride in the recesses 26, the latter extending upward and outward so that as the roller sleeves recede they will retract the staple driving members. The sleeves 28 are carried by pins 30 provided in the upper ends of two sets of toggle arms or links 32, having their lower ends pivoted upon pins 34 carried by a plunger 36 operating in vertical guideways 38 which are provided upon opposite sides of the midportion of the bar 6. This plunger is actuated by a screw 40 which has a bearing 42 in a yoke 44 extending between the corresponding pivoted member 50, and

provided with a pair of curved recesses .51 for clenching engagement with the ends of the staple legs. The anvil and its carrying bar are preferably of cylindrical form for the purpose of fitting in the mop or brush ferrule 56 and engaging one end face of a block 58 provided in said ferrule to be em-.

braced by the staple. The block 58 may be secured within the ferrule in any suitable manner, as by means of a tack 59.

For accommodating the ferrule and adj acent parts in working position, the corresponding portions of the bars 6 and 12 and the uprights are cut away to form bearing recesses of curved outline (see Fig. 8), and the bar 12 is provided with side-plates 60 at these points to afford bearing surfaces equal in width to the diameter of the ferrule. Further recesses are provided in the bars 6 and 12 at the outer ends of the guide channels 16 for engagement with rings 6% which are applied to the inner ends of the ferrules (see lii gs. 6 and 7) for a purpose hereinafter referred to, and retaining plates 66 are secured to the bar 6 for engagement with the lower half of each ring.

For convenience in raising and lowering the top bar 12 for the different operations of the machine, a handle 68 is provided near the free end of the bar, which end also carries a pin 70 to be received in a pair of recesses 72 in the corresponding pair of plates 8, thereby forming a stop for limiting the lowering movement of the bar 12, as well as helping to support said bar against any tendency toward longitudinal movement when in lowered position. The same pair of plates 8 is also provided with a keeper 7 L whichis pivoted at 76 to the plates and carries a cross-pin 78 which normally rests rpon shoulders 79 provided on the outer edges of the plateswhen the keeper is in inoperative position; but when the keeper is raised into operative position (see Fig. 1) its pin 78 rides over the curved adjacent end of the bar 12 and serves to maintain the same in parallel relation to the bar 6. Provision is also made for further supporting the bar 12 against the upward thrusts exerted during the working operation of the screw, by the insertion of a pair of plates 80 between the upper edge of the top bar 12 ant the laterally inturned portions 82 at the upper ends of the uprights 1. These plates 80 carry screws 8 lhaving the knurled heads 86,- whereby. the plates 80, may be fitted in proper snugrelation between the top bar and the heads of the uprights 1, the upward thrusts above referred "to being re ceived by the screws 84: and transmitted through the plates 80 to the inturned portions 82 of the uprights 4. The plates 80 are swiveled upon the outer ends of bars 88 slidingly mounted on the upper edge of the top bar 12 and within keepers 90 carried by said bar 12. The inner ends of the bars 88 are connectedby means of a link 92 piw oted to one of the bars 88, and a lever 94: pivoted to the other bar 88 and to said link. By means of this arrangement the plates 80 may be readily inserted or withdrawn from operative position by the mere operation of the lever 9%, the plates being withdrawn when it is desired to raise the bar 12 as illustrated in-Fig. 2. A stop pin 89 midway along the top edge of bar 12 limits the inward movement of the sliding bars 88. It will. also be noted that the screws 84 may be employed as set-screws to hold the plates 80 in retracted position, thereby guarding against their accidentally engaging the inturned portions 82 of the uprights l.

In operation, the top bar 12 is raised into the position represented by the broken lines in Fig. 2, and the screw 10 retracted t bring the staple driving members to the inner limits of their movement (see Fig. 1). A ferrule 56 is then applied to each of the anvil carrying bars, the latter being raised slightly on their pivots L8 to permit this application, after which a ring 64- is inserted in place at the inner end of each ferrule. A pair of staples is then supplied with the proper amount of brush or mop material 96, and each staple is then positioned opposite one of the rings Get with the legs of the staple projecting just within the edge of the ferrule opening. Staples are used having their points normally spread apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the ferrule, or other staple guiding element being used, so that after the staple has been inserted its points will spring into engagement with the ferrule and thereby hold the staple in position without further attention. Next'the top bar 12 is lowered to clamp the rings and ferrules in place and the bar is locked in this position by means of the keeper 7 1 and the plates 80 which are slid in beneath the inturnedportions 82 by means of the lever 91-. screw 40 by means of the wheel 16 now serves to raise the toggle links 32 and force the staple driving members 20 outward, thereby driving the staples before them in between the blocks 58 and the surroundii'ig ferrules until the points of the staples engage the anvils 52, with the result that the points of, each staple are deflected inward and finally embedded in the adjacent end face of the block. The rings 64: serve to Operation of the protect the mop or brush material from any possible cutting action of the edges of the ferrules, and also guard against any bucltling of said edges in the working operation of the machine. The rings give a neater appearance or finish to the completed brush or mop, and obviously are retained in place by the material of the mop or brush itself when finished (see Fig. 11). At the conclusion of the staple driving operation, the above steps in the operation of the machine are reversed, the completed mops or brushes removed, and the further operation of the machine is a mere repetition of that outlined above.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the applicant has contrived a mechanism by means of which the manufacture of a mop or brush of the character indicated is greatly facilitated as compared to the hand manufacture of such articles, the only method heretofore employed so far as applicant is aware. The staple is accurately directed into its proper position and securely clenched to the block in an efiicient manner, and two of such staples are driven in one and the same operation of the machine. It is, moreover, obvious that it is not essential to the primary operation of the invention, in its broadest aspect, that that part to which the staple is clenched be combined with a specific ferrule attached thereto in a way requiring the ferrule to form a part of the mop or brush, so long as any means is employed to direct the proper course of the staple legs in embracing the block and causing them to engage the recesses of the anvil. The right is therefore reserved to any equivalent of the meansshown for use in connection with the staple driving means for the accomplishment of this result, and also to such other formal changes and modifications as may fairly fall with the scope of the appended claims. i

I claim 1. The method of applying staples to blocks fitted within ferrules, which consists in supporting the ferrule in position intermed ate a staple clenching member and a staple driving member, imparting relative mo ement to said members, and directing the legs of the staple during said relative movement into engagement first with the block within the ferrule and thereafter with said clenching member to clench the ends of the staple legs into one end face of the block.

2. The method of applying staples to blocks fitted within ferrules, which consists in supporting the ferrule in position intermediate a staple clenching member and a staple driving member, imparting relative movement to said members, directing the legs of the staple during the first part of said movement within the ferrule and along the sides of the block, and clenching the ends of the staple legs during the latter part of said movement into one end face of the block.

3. The method of applying staples to blocks inclosed by ferrules and having end faces spaced from the ends of the ferrules, which consists in fitting one end of the ferrule over a staple clenching member, presenting a staple within the opposite end of the ferrule in advance of a staple driving member, and imparting relative approaching movements to said members to cause the legs of the staple to engage the block and thereafter clench the ends of the staple legs into one end face of the block.

4. The method of applying staples to blocks, which consists in interposing the block between a staple driving member and a staple clenching member, positioning a staple between the block and drivingmemher with the ends of the staple legs alined with opposite sides of the block, imparting relative approaching movement to said members and guiding said legs during said movement to embrace the opposite sides of the block and move into engagement with the clenching member.

5. A machine for applying staples to blocks, comprising a staple clenching member, a staple driving member, means for holding the block between said members with one face of the block presented to the clenching member, means for imparting relative approaching movement to said members, and means acting during said movement to cause the legs of the staple to embrace opposite sides of the block prior to engagement with the clenching member.

6. In a machine for applying staples to blocks, the combination of means for applying a staple to the block with the legs of the staple embracing opposite sides of the block, means for clenching the ends of the staple legs into one end face of the block, and means for holding the block in position for the action of said staple applying and clenching means.

7. A machine for applying staples to blocks inclosed by ferrules, comprising means for driving a staple through the ferrule with the staple legs embracing opposite sides of the block. means for bending the ends of the staple legs toward one end face of the block, and means for holding the ferrule and block in position for the action of said driving and bending means.

8. A machine for clenching staples within ferrules, comprising a staple clenching member formed to fit within the ferrule, a staple driving member. means for holding the ferrule in position between said members with one end of the ferrule fitted over said clenching members. and means for imparting relative approaching movement to said members and thereby causing said clenching member to clench the ends of the staple within the ferrule.

9. A machine for applying staples to blocks inclosed by ferrules and having one end face of each block spaced from the adjacent end of the ferrule, comprising a staple clenching member formed to fit within the ferrule, a staple driving member, means for holding the ferrule in position between said members with one end of the ferrule receiving said clenching member against said block, and means for imparting relative approaching movement to said members to drive a staple into engagement with the block and cause the ends of the staple legs to be clenched into one end face of the block.

10. A machine for applying staples to blocks com )risin a staule clenchin mem-,

ber, a staple driving member, said members being relatively movable toward and from each other, means for guiding the staple during the relative movement of said members and directing the staple legs along the sides of the block, and means for imparting relative movement to said members to bring the ends of the staple legs against said clenching members and clench said ends into the adjacent face of the block.

11. In a machine of the class described, a pair of staple clenching members mounted in line and facing each other, a pair of staple driving members mounted between and in line with said clenching members, and means for imparting movement to said driving members simultaneously and in opposite directions for clenching a staple between each pair of the driving and clenching mem bers.

12.111 a machine of the class described, a pair of staple clenching members mounted in line and facing each other, a pair of staple driving members mounted between and in line with said clenching members, and a toggle mechanism connected with said driving members for actuating the same simultaneously in opposite directions to clench a staple between each pair of driving and clenching members.

13. A machine for clenching staples within ferrules comprising a staple clenching member formed to fit within the ferrule, ring-retaining means mounted in position to support a ring adjacent the mouth of the ferrule when applied to the clenching member, a staple driving member, and means for actuating said driving member to drive a staple through the ring and ferrule into engagement with the clenching member.

14. In a machine for clenching staples within ferrules, a staple clenching member comprising a pivoted anvilcarrying bar formed to it within the ferrule, means for holding the anvil bar in clenching position with the ferrule applied thereto, a staple driving member, and means for actuating said driving member to drive a staple through theferrule into engagement with the anvil. V

15. In a machine of the class described, a pair of bars forming a guideway between them, a staple driving member mounted to move along said guideway, a staple clenching member mounted atone end of said guideway, one of said bars being movable to permit the insertion of a staple in advance of said driving member, and means for actuating said driving member to effect clenching of said staple by the clenching member.

16. In a machine of the class described, a pair of bars forming a guideway between them, a staple driving member mounted to move along said guideway, a staple clenching member mounted at one end of said guide *ay and formed to fit within a ferrule, said bars being provided with oppositely located recesses for retaining a ring opposite the mouth of the ferrule when applied to said clenching member and one of said bars being movable to permit the insertion of a staple. in advance of said driving member, and means for actuating said driving member to drive the staple through the ring and ferrule into engagement with the clenching member.v I

17 In a machine of the class described, a pair of bars forming a guideway between them, a staple clenching member mounted at each of the outer ends of said guideway, a

pair of staple driving members mounted to move in opposite directions along the guideway toward said clenching members, one of said bars being movable to permit insertion of a staple in advance of each of said dri ing members, and means for simultaneously actuating said driving members to effect clenching of said staples by said clenching members. v

18. In a machine of the class described, a pair of bars forming a guideway between them, a staple clenching member mounted at each of the outer ends of said guideway, a pair of staple driving members mounted to move in opposite directions along the guideway toward said clenching members, one of said bar's being pivotally supported at one end to permit movement of the bar for the insertion of a staple in advance of each of said driving members, means for locking the free end of said pivoted bar in 7 closed position, supplemental means for bracing said pivoted bar at points overlying the outer ends of said guideway, and means for simultaneously actuating said driving members to effect clenching of said staples by said clenching members. 1 i

19. In a machine of the class described, a pair of uprights having laterally offset upper ends, a pair of vertically spaced bars supported by said uprights and forming a guideivay between them, a staple clenching member mounted at each of the outer ends of said guideway, a pair of staple driving members mounted to move in opposite directions along said guideivay toward said clenching members, the upper of said bars being pivotally mounted at one end to permit movement of the bar for the insertion of a staple in advance of each of said driving members, means for locking the free end of said pivoted bar in lowered position, supplemental locking plates movably mounted on the upper edge of said pivoted bar, means for simultaneously moving said locking plates into and out of engagement with said o'liset portions of the uprights, and means for simultaneously actuating said driving members to effect clenching of said staples by said clenching members.

20. In a machine of the class described, a pair of uprights havingforked and laterally offset upper ends, a pair of vertically spaced bars supported by said uprights and forming a guideway between them, a staple clenching member mounted at each of the outer ends of said guideway, a pair of staple driving members mounted to move in opposite directions along said guideway toward said clenching members, the upper of said bars being pivotally mounted at one end to permit movement of the bar for the insertion of a staple in advance of each of said driving members, means for locking the free end of said pivoted bar in lowered position, supplemental locking plates movably mounted on the upper edge of said pivoted bar, means for simultaneously moving said locking plates into and out of engagement with said oitset portions of the uprights, vertical screws carried by said plates and adjustable into engagement with the pivoted bar, and means for simultaneously actuating said driving members to effect clenching of said staples by said clenching members.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN T. OPIE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. W. GERARD, Consnn B. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

